Las Cruces High knocks off Mayfield
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - For most of the game, Las Cruces' gun fired blanks. As it turned out, all senior quarterback Matt Montoya needed was one shot.

Metro Basketball Roundup
Girls
Palo Duro 79, Hillcrest 25
WICHITA FALLS - Palo Duro's smothering defense limited Dallas Hillcrest to just 10 points over the final three quarters as it rolled to a 79-25 victory in the Fantasy of Lights Tournament on Friday.

Tripp: Compelling accounts
His name on the book cover appears as Brig/General Houshang Filsouf (I.I.A.E., Retired), but friends in Amarillo, where he has lived for 22 years, know him as Hugh Filsouf.

Wylie: A good example in making a difference
Attempting to swing "make a difference" back to logic may be futile, but I was pleased recently to hear a speaker on NPR say that an action "made a positive difference." May all who care rejoice an

Market Summary
NEW YORK (AP) - The Dow Jones industrials' eight-week winning streak ended Friday, although Wall Street managed a modest gain following news that President Bush had shaken up his economic team.

Energy Briefs
Atmos Energy Corp. has completed its acquisition of Mississippi Valley Gas Co. of Jackson, Miss., for $75 million cash, $75 million in A

Gimmie caps not what they used to be
The Amarillo Farm & Ranch Show has come and gone and anyone who walked through it was sure to pick up some "gimme" with advertising - be it a pen, calendar or yardstick.

Path to bankruptcy linked to downturn
CHICAGO - Bankruptcy first appeared on the radar screen as a possibility for United Airlines following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But the carrier's descent toward financial emergency began much earlier.

Taylor: Look out America, we could be to blame
Recently, I had an opportunity to reread one of my favorite books. The book is titled "Seeds of Greatness." The author is Denis Waitley. As I reread Chapter 3, I realized there was a column topic worth writing about.

Specialists talk about seeding at farm and ranch show
It's difficult to have too high of a seeding rate on forage production wheat, area Texas Cooperative Extension specialists said Thursday during the 18th annual Panhandle Farm & Ranch Management Symposium during the Amarillo Farm & Ranch Show at the Amarillo Civic Center.

Business Briefs
New Positions
Vagrosky Graphic Design, Advertising and Marketing, 2406 W. Seventh Ave., announced Ralph McClelland joined the staff as marketing and sales director. He previously worked for Lamar Advertising.

Lay foundation can't fulfill year's pledges
HOUSTON (AP) - Former Enron Corp. chairman Ken Lay's family foundation cannot meet more than $2.4 million in pledges for this year, and has asked charities and organizations to let it honor the pledges at a future date, according to Lay's spokeswoman.

Unemployment soars to match 8-year high
WASHINGTON - The nation's unemployment rate soared to 6 percent in November, delivering what one analyst called a "cold, hard slap in the face" about a sagging economy that many thought had already hit bottom for job seekers.

Firm offers offshore burial option
BROWNSVILLE (AP) - A company that offers the unique option of burying cremated remains under the sea as part of an artificial reef is taking orders for burials off the shores of South Padre Island.

Randall County District Court
47th District
Michael David Fitzgerald. Judgment. Manual delivery of controlled substance, more than 200 grams less than 400 grams. Punishment assessed 10 years in Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division, $1,500 fine and costs.

Randall County Court at Law
Sefra Rodriguez. Judgment. Theft by check, more than $20 less than $500. Punishment assessed two days in Randall County Jail and costs.

Potter County District Courts
181st District
Alister Brown. Judgment. Assault of a public servant. Punishment assessed 40 years in Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division and costs.

She did survive
DALLAS - Gloria Gaynor's face lights up at the mere mention of three magical words, "I Will Survive." She smiles tenderly, like a mother proud of her child's accomplishments, before raising a manicured hand to gently brush her hair away from her eyes.

Kidman ready for romance
NEW YORK (AP) - She calls ex-husband Tom Cruise "the love of my life," but Nicole Kidman says she's ready for romance.

Winona Ryder gets probation
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - Winona Ryder was sentenced Friday to work with the sick, the blind and babies with AIDS as part of a probationary term for stealing more than $5,500 worth of high-fashion merchandise from a Saks Fifth Avenue store.

Recent Releases
Following is a partial schedule of upcoming movies on video. Release dates are subject to change, and not all films will be available at all outlets. (DVD) indicates a DVD-only release; (also DVD) indicates a simultaneous video/DVD release.

Ingalls: Images inspire feelings, thought
In Dave Golbert's show, "Some Recent and Not-so-Recent Paintings and Drawings" at O.H.M.S Cafe, 619 Tyler St., the rigors of modernism exist side-by side with post-modern freedom and objectivity. Those being art-jargon terms, they may need explaining (the art works speak quite well for themselves).

City names alley after Dave
MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - Television talk show host David Letterman wasn't even there to see his college town name an alley for him - and he was still upstaged.

Mystery to be staged
Top of Texas Players will stage "The Hollywood Awards Murder Banquet" at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Warhol works on debut
LAS VEGAS (AP) - A collection of more than 50 Andy Warhol celebrity paintings and works on paper will debut at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art in February.

'Chicago' auditions set
Auditions for Amarillo Little Theatre's Adventure Space production of "Chicago" will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the Main Stage auditorium, 2019 Civic Circle.

Community prayer breakfast
About 2,000 Amarillo area residents filled a room at the Amarillo Civic Center on Nov. 26 for the annual community prayer breakfast.

Scouts food fest
Members of the Girl Scouts Texas Plains Council sponsored an international food fest Nov. 14 at the home of Debra Ballou.

Avocado plants for fun, not fruit
Avocados are abundant now and green plants are not. Hence avocados' popularity as a houseplant; you take what you have a lot of and make it into something you have few of. Avocado seeds are easy to grow into avocado houseplants.

Reception for new CEO of MHMR
Sanford "Sandy" Skelton was guest of honor Nov. 22 at a reception celebrating his new job as chief executive officer for the Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers Inc. and thanking him for his years of service and dedication as executive director for the Texas Panhandle MHMR.

Childs: Family reunions more important than ever
Since the holiday season is a time when many families discuss hopes and plans for a reunion next year, Edith Wagner shares another news release concerning this topic. Dated Oct. 24, the article, "Importance of Family Reunions Increases Post 9/11: National Survey Reveals How Families 'Plan' to 'Maintain Roots,' " may inspire readers to make sure their own reunions take place.

Las Posadas de Amarillo scheduled Dec. 15
Organizers of Las Posadas de Amarillo say they hope that re-enacting Joseph and Mary's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem will put participants in the shoes of people who currently seek elusive shelter.

Black: Stories are painful reminder of rodeo tradition
The National Finals rodeo takes the spotlight every December in Las Vegas. The level of the competition and the animals seem to increase each year. It is easy to get swept up in the glitter and glamour of championship buckles and the full volume extravaganza.

Retired teachers to meet Friday
The Amarillo Retired Teachers Association will meet at 2 p.m. Friday in the board room of the Amarillo Independent School District Education Support Center, 7200 W. Interstate 40.

Wreaths: Area buyers want traditional styles
One of the more enduring staples of holiday decor is the wreath. Posted indoors or on the home's front door, the simplest wreath adds warmth and represents a welcoming gesture. Crafted from fresh evergreens, a wreath can impart an aroma as intoxicating as Grandma's special Christmas cookies.

Entities keep Hazelrigg holiday tradition alive
Fact-mingled legend gave rise to Santa Claus, but a keen sense of need and a kind heart combined in Mary Lou Hazelrigg, the namesake for a holiday party that still brings Amarillo-area children joy years after her death.

New Neighbors annual auction
New Neighbors of Amarillo raised $1,700 at its annual charity auction in November at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

Volunteers
Wounded Hearts Outreach Mission
Help is needed for a new mission opening. We need an electrician, painting, sheetrocking, stucco repair, cabinets and kitchen modeling, bathroom accessibility for handicapped, yard clean-up and maintenance and carpet and pad layers. Call 381-6030 or 671-1034.

Holiday activities afoot
The holidays are less than complete without plenty of family and lots of friends around, even underfoot. Here are some ways to take care of them - some active, some interactive and some downright delicious.

Glenpool takes Oklahoma 4A crown
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Courtney Tennial rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns as Glenpool finished an undefeated season with a 41-0 win over Weatherford in the Oklahoma Class 4A state championship game Saturday.

Education Briefs
Amarillo College
Registration for the mid-winter and spring semesters continues. Students can register by telephone, online or in person after getting clearance from an instructor or advisor and/or meeting testing requirements. Call 371-5155 for phone registration. The AC Web site is www.actx.edu. Walk-in registration is available at all AC Student Service Centers. For general registration information, call 371-5175.

Police deal with mental illness daily
When a mentally ill person first brushes against the legal system, the system is often manifested in the form of a police officer. But more times than not, police involvement doesn't necessarily mean a crime has occurred.

Jails can be first stop for mentally ill
Editor's Note: They Walked a Crooked Mile: This is the second installment of a series of articles looking at the crossroads where the mentally ill meet the criminal justice system. The series concludes Sunday.

Randall court house future in limbo
Three years after a failed $8.4 million bond election, which partially addressed the preservation of the 1909 Randall County Court House, the future of the structure still hangs in limbo.

Lockhart sets second record: Space shuttle landing delays
Astronaut Paul Lockhart, a native of Amarillo, has a second record. He already holds the record of the fastest return trip to the International Space Station and the first Amarilloan to fly in space twice. Now he holds the record for the most weather delays for a shuttle landing.

Weather service sponsors SKYWARN Recognition Day
Adjusting knobs, logging times, and making small talk keeps these guys entertained for hours. But when weather gets bad and they get the call, these hobbyists with a bent toward gadgetry become literal action heroes.

On The Calendar
December
Nites of Lites, 6 to 11 p.m. daily to Dec. 28. John S. Stiff Memorial Park.

Battle of the Bulge lecture set for today
The Amarillo Public Library and the Panhandle Chapter 181 of the Air Force Association will present a lecture and discussion on the Battle of the Bulge at 2 p.m. today at the Central Library, 413 E. Fourth Ave.

Leonard Harris
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Mausoleum Chapel at Memory Gardens Cemetery with Cecil Burch of North Amarillo Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Martin Road Chapel, 15th Avenue and Martin Road.

Test of deer show no signs wasting disease has spread
WAUSAU, Wis. - Initial tests of deer killed in Wisconsin's fall hunts found no evidence that chronic wasting disease has spread beyond the area where it originally was found, the state Department of Natural Resources said Friday.

Shelburne: Christmas is time for celebration
When I was just a kid, growing up in a church that strongly opposed the observance of all religious holidays, I falsely assumed that we were the only church in town that did not celebrate Christmas enthusiastically.

Christmas program set
The sanctuary choir of St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4317 W. Interstate 40, will perform the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah at 8:30 and 10:50 a.m. Sunday.

Choir to give program
The sanctuary choir of First Baptist Church, 1717 Fourth Ave. in Canyon, will present "The Wonder of Christmas" at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Appreciation Day set
Faith Christian Family Church, 3401 N. Norris St. in Clovis, N.M., will have a Firefighter Appreciation Day at 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday.

Guest speakers slated
Chaplain Phil Wright and wife Linda will be guest speakers at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Fairview Assembly of God, 3706 E. 10th Ave. Wright has been a minister with the Assemblies of God for more than 30 years.

Christmas cantata set
The sanctuary choir of First Christian Church, 3001 Wolflin Ave., will present its Christmas Cantata at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 in the sanctuary.

Advent service planned
Christ Lutheran Church, 2400 N. Coulter St., will have an Advent worship service, "Yet in Thy Dark Streets Shineth," at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Supper will be served at 6 p.m.

Choir to present musical
The fourth- through sixth-grade choir of First Baptist Church, 1208 S. Tyler St., will present the Christmas musical, "I Witness News: Live From Bethlehem," at 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary.

Greyhounds win, 87-81
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Cedric Palmer scored 18 points to lead Eastern New Mexico to an 87-81 men's basketball win over New Mexico Highlands on Friday at The Pit.

Arkansas coach Nutt says he's had no contact with Alabama
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt, preparing his team for an appearance today in the Southeastern Conference championship game, says he's had no official contact with Alabama, where officials are looking for a new coach.

Georgia has eye on championship, maybe two
ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia Bulldogs know they can win one championship Saturday. If things go really well, they could wind up with a chance to play for the biggest title of all.

Hornets top Rockets in overtime
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Jamal Mashburn scored 25, Jamaal Magloire added 16 points and 17 rebounds and the New Orleans Hornets improved to 11-0 at home with a 98-96 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Look sharp
A platoon of ex-NFL players prowls the sidelines before games, clipboards at the ready, identifying violators of the league's strict dress code, getting the goods on them.

Cowboys remember Owens' antics
IRVING (AP) - Long before Terrell Owens pulled a pen out of his sock to sign a football after scoring, the San Francisco receiver had a pair of infamous touchdown celebrations at the center of Texas Stadium.

Forget the statistics, Army-Navy always special
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Less than 24 hours before playing Navy in probably their final game, neither Aris Comeaux nor guard Alex Moore wanted to spend much time thinking about their football careers at Army.

Stewart collects more than $9 million
NEW YORK (AP) - It definitely isn't the money that makes Tony Stewart race, although the new Winston Cup champion isn't about to give back the more than $9 million he received at the NASCAR Awards Ceremony.

Mavs' Najera shelved
DALLAS (AP) - Dallas Mavericks forward Eduardo Najera had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday morning and will be out six to eight weeks. The surgery was needed to repair injured cartilage.

New York Yankees offer pitcher Clemens salary arbitration
NEW YORK (AP) - Roger Clemens and Jeff Kent were offered salary arbitration by their old teams, Ray Durham moved across San Francisco Bay to the Giants, and Texas said goodbye to catcher Ivan Rodriguez on a busy deadline night in baseball.

Gorillas waive Robertson
The Amarillo Gorillas announced Friday that forward Chris Robertson has been waived and will join the team's front office immediately.

The Smart Money
Bob Christ has been given a hypothetical $500 to wager on NFL games.

Gorillas upset division-leading Austin
AUSTIN - With a mediocre 8-8 record entering Friday night's game against the Austin Ice Bats, the Amarillo Gorillas seemed like an unlikely candidate to win at the Travis County Expo Center.

Big 12 Men: Texas advances to face Irish
WASHINGTON (AP) - On an afternoon in which No. 2 Texas was rendered defenseless, James Thomas provided enough muscle on the opposite end to make up for the shortcoming.

Angels will increase payroll 33 percent
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Even while The Walt Disney Co. proceeds with plans to sell the World Series champion Anaheim Angels, it has approved a 33 percent payroll rise to keep the World Series championship roster.

Blazers further tarnish image
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A blunt billboard on a busy downtown street makes clear how at least one fan of the Portland Trail Blazers feels about the team.

Red Raiders learn lesson
LUBBOCK - Fifty-four weeks since it happened, Texas Tech still remembers the one that got away last year.

Angels minor leaguer Burden dies at 23
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Randy Burden, a minor league pitcher in the Anaheim Angels organization, died in his sleep, the club announced Friday. He was 23.

Port says he will remain with Boston Red Sox
BOSTON (AP) - Mike Port, Boston's interim general manager while the team spent the 2002 season looking for a permanent one, will stay with the Red Sox as vice president of baseball operations.

Franchione makes it official
COLLEGE STATION (AP) - Dennis Franchione didn't decide this week that he wanted to be the football coach at Texas A&M. He always coveted the job.

Palmer in contention
LA QUINTA, Calif. - Ryan Palmer remained in contention to earn playing privileges on the 2003 PGA Tour on Friday.

Braves spin their version on Glavine talks
ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves turned to damage control Friday, saying they made every effort to re-sign Tom Glavine and insisting they will still have a championship-quality team in 2003.

OSU challenging Tech for berth in Houston Bowl
LUBBOCK - Texas Tech football fans took the initiative last December, lobbying hard - and, in the end, successfully - for the Alamo Bowl to invite their Red Raiders instead of Texas A&M.

Spurs snap 76ers' eight-game winning streak
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - The second-longest winning streak of the NBA season came to an end Friday night as Tim Duncan scored 29 points and the San Antonio Spurs blocked 16 shots in a 98-93 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Portland, Santa Clara advance to final
AUSTIN (AP) - Veronica Zepeda scored two goals and defending champion Santa Clara advanced to the title game of the NCAA Women's College Cup with a 2-1 victory over North Carolina on Friday night.

Parity plus: Most squads still in NFL playoff picture
When New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi was working as an executive at NFL headquarters in the early 1970s, he often helped formulate the regular-season schedule. Thirty years later, he still remembers the mantra of commissioner Pete Rozelle.

White Sox sign Thomas to new contract
CHICAGO (AP) - Frank Thomas will stay in Chicago after all, agreeing with the White Sox on a one-year contract with three mutual options Friday that guarantees the slugger $22.5 million.

Spellmann: High-tech sales tools available
Computers have become useful tools in just about every industry imaginable. From manufacturing to professional services, hardware and software tools have enabled businesses to focus more on their specialties instead of the nonrevenue-generating activities.

Flock of tame turkeys shot in Miami
MIAMI - Many people find themselves hating turkey after days of Thanksgiving leftovers, but Roberts County officials say someone took it too far by decimating a beloved flock of gobblers that has called Miami home for years.

'I saw the bombs falling'
PLAINVIEW - Second Class Pharmacist Mate Lee Soucy thought he was on top of the world just before 8 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941.

Sexual activity involving inmates, jailers investigated
BROWNSVILLE (AP) - The embattled Cameron County jail system, already under investigation over money missing from inmates' accounts, is now being investigated for alleged sexual activity between inmates and jailers, the district attorney's office announced.

American asks its employees for pay freeze
DALLAS (AP) - American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, asked its employees Friday to forego pay raises they are due next year to help the company stem massive losses.

Census: 2000 count missed 364,000 Texans
HOUSTON - A set of statistically adjusted estimates from Census 2000, whose accuracy is a subject of political debate, shows about 364,000 Texans - or 1.7 percent - were missed in the decennial headcount.

Palo Duro River Authority board to discuss possible tax abatement
SPEARMAN - The Palo Duro River Authority board of directors will discuss and consider action on a possible tax abatement for a proposed Great Plains Windpower wind energy site near Gruver in Hansford County during a regular meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the PDRA office board room, according to a PDRA news release.

Iraq files arms declaration
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq handed over its long-awaited arms declaration to the United Nations on Saturday, denying it has doomsday weapons, and President Saddam Hussein grudgingly apologized to Kuwait for his 1990 invasion.

Lawyers: Confessions don't always reveal truth
NEW YORK - Hours of interrogation, youthful suspects, police pressured by a city hungry for safety - all those elements can combine to produce confessions that may not reveal the truth.

Cruising outlook positive, but war could sink recovery
MIAMI - The cruise industry had hoped 2003 would bring an end to the uncertainty that shadowed the business since the terrorist attacks. With the recent outbreak of stomach viruses on four ships, the outlook for next year is even more unclear.

Iraq war poses risks to U.S. Arab allies
CAIRO, Egypt - Washington's Arab allies have reluctantly resigned themselves to a war in Iraq, though some are skeptical of U.S. assurances that it would be brief and cause little damage or loss of civilian lives.

Thousands demonstrate to support Venezuelan leader
CARACAS, Venezuela- Thousands of people wearing red berets marched Saturday through the capital of oil-rich Venezuela to support embattled President Hugo Chavez a day after three people were fatally shot at an opposition rally.

OPEC expected to curb production
LONDON (AP) - With OPEC pumping far more oil than it agreed to last year, the crude producers' cartel is expected to insist this week that its members tighten their taps to help prevent a glut that could send crude prices tumbling.

Today in History
Today is Sunday, Dec. 8, the 342nd day of 2002. There are 23 days left in the year.

Today in History
In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Two Van Gogh paintings stolen from Dutch Museum
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - Thieves broke into the Van Gogh Museum Saturday and made off with two works by the 19th century master - less than a week after a multimillion dollar gem heist from a Dutch diamond exhibition.

Court revives right-to-bear-arms debate
SAN FRANCISCO - An appeals court ruling that the Second Amendment does not grant Americans a personal right to own firearms contradicts Attorney General John Ashcroft and may put the Supreme Court at the center of an impassioned debate as old as the nation.

U.S. imposing restrictions on food aid
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States has decided to impose conditions on food aid to North Korea, including a demand that Korean authorities allow an expansion of independent monitoring of food distribution.

U.S. disputes Iraqi denial of weapons
UNITED NATIONS - Even before Iraq hands over the long-awaited declaration of its weapons and missile programs today in Baghdad, Iraq, the Bush administration is preparing to declare Iraq in material breach of a tough U.N. resolution for expected omissions in the report, U.S. officials said Friday.

Homeland, huh?
Now that President Bush, with the stroke of a pen, has granted cabinet status to the word homeland, perhaps we should bring our most patriotic lyrics into full conformity.

Bush learns economics lesson from his father
WASHINGTON - Faced with an economy going nowhere, President Bush acted like the owner of a losing baseball team - he fired the manager and shook up the team. The replacements will be asked to re-energize a weak economy, restore confidence on Wall Street and persuade Congress to accept a big new stimulus package.

Labels divide farm, food industry
WASHINGTON - Food labels similar to the "Made in the USA" tags for clothing are coming to grocery stores, letting consumers know where the meat, fish, fruits and vegetables they buy are grown and processed.

About 1 million kids missed in census
WASHINGTON - Black and Hispanic children made up about half of the 1.1 million children missed in the 2000 census even though they comprise one-third of all U.S. kids, according to newly released government estimates.

President seeks political fresh start
WASHINGTON - President Bush pushed Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and economic adviser Larry Lindsey from their jobs Friday in a Cabinet shakeup designed to control political damage from the ailing economy.

Government forces kill 120 civilians in Ivory Coast town
MONOKO-ZOHI, Ivory Coast (AP) - Terrorized villagers on Saturday showed the burnt shops and covered corpses from what appeared to be the worst bloodletting of Ivory Coast's three-month war - a massacre of 120 unarmed civilians by government soldiers, survivors claimed.

Inspectors find weapons of mass destruction
AL-MUTHANNA STATE ESTABLISHMENT, Iraq - The chemical team stepped into a hangar-like shed carpeted with clumps of bird droppings and feathers. In the shadows they saw them - a dozen artillery shells still filled, as they have been for years, with one of man's most dreaded substances, mustard gas.

Former miner shares the past at museum
PICHER (AP) - Louis Hile is one of Picher's ambassadors. A regular at the Picher Mining Field Museum, Hile greets sightseers and students with enthusiasm about his town and its mining past.

Inspectors: Drug cartels launder $80 million
MIAMI - Colombian drug cartels conceived an elaborate scheme that converted more than $80 million in cocaine profits to clean cash by moving money through life insurance policies, authorities said.

Cole finishes campaign with money left over
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Republican Tom Cole collected nearly $1.25 million for his successful congressional campaign this year, which turned out to be more money than he needed in the competitive race to replace Rep. J.C. Watts in the U.S. House.

Law faces renewed criticism
BOSTON - After months of criticism for his role in the Catholic church's sex abuse scandal, Cardinal Bernard Law in recent weeks had restored some normalcy to his duties leading the Boston Archdiocese and resumed making high-profile public appearances.

Unemployment soars to match 8-year high
WASHINGTON - The nation's unemployment rate soared to 6 percent in November, delivering what one analyst called a "cold, hard slap in the face" about a sagging economy that many thought had already hit bottom for job seekers.

Activists appeal to revoke Tibet death sentence
BEIJING (AP) - Asserting that two Tibetans convicted of a series of bombings might have been framed, human rights activists are appealing for foreign pressure on China to rescind a death sentence imposed on one of them.

Shooting at opposition rally kills 2
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Shots were fired at an opposition rally in a Caracas square Friday night, killing two people and wounding 12, an official said. The violence erupted moments after opposition leaders announced they would extend and expand a general walkout aimed at unseating President Hugo Chavez.

Myron Kahn
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) - Myron Kahn, who invented polarized ceiling light panels that reduced glare in schools and office buildings across the world died Nov. 19 of heart failure. He was 85.

1.8 million in Carolinas battle ice, power loss
CONCORD, N.C. - An armada of cherry-picker trucks lined up and moved out Friday at Lowes Motor Speedway, a staging area in the race to restore power to nearly 1.8 million people in the ice-coated Carolinas.

Jimmy Caras
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Jimmy Caras, who won five world billiards championships between 1936 and 1967, died Tuesday. He was 93.

Kenyan farmers find two missiles
MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) - Farmers have found the two missiles that narrowly missed an Israeli airliner stuck in fields about sixmiles north of Mombasa airport, a police investigator said Friday.

FAA proposes more inspections of older aircraft
WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration proposed on Friday a more active federal role in the inspection of older commercial airliners, anticipating that aircraft will remain increasingly longer in service.

Check this Out
NASHUA, N.H. (AP) - A kayaker who began paddling in May from her Florida home to her high school reunion in Nashua has finished her 1,750-mile journey.

Ex-Emory president dies
ATLANTA (AP) - Former Emory University President Sanford S. Atwood, who stood firm behind a professor who espoused the "God is dead" theory in 1965, died Monday. He was 89.

Student files lawsuit over lost scholarship
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A college junior who lost a Kentucky merit scholarship when he decided to major in religion is suing the state, claiming it discriminates against students wanting to obtain degrees in religious studies by denying them funding.

Shuttle Endeavour returns to Earth
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - After a record-setting streak of bad landing weather, shuttle Endeavour, piloted by Paul Lockhart, a native Amarilloan, returned to Earth on Saturday, bringing an astronaut and pair of cosmonauts home from a six-month space station voyage.

A new outlook
PHOENIX - On a sunny November morning, the officer grabs his briefcase and a carton filled with family photographs and climbs from a pickup in the parking lot of police headquarters.

Bob Steele
WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (AP) - Radio legend Bob Steele, a member of the national Radio Hall of Fame and a fixture on WTIC-FM for 55 years, died Friday. He was 91.

AHS' Clark named 2-5A Player of the Year
Though no metro or area volleyball teams secured state titles this season, it didn't keep them from landing seven players on the Texas Girls Coaches Association's All-State volleyball teams in 2002.

Fox - McLean
Dawn Marie Fox and Christopher Douglas McLean, both of Amarillo, were married Saturday, Nov. 30, at the home of George Lokey. The Rev. Jimmy Fox, father of the bride, officiated.

Sutton - Sparling
Erin Melissa Sutton of Amarillo and Chad Lee Sparling of Plano were married Monday, Nov. 18, at The Wedding Chapel.

Scott - Borgan
Amy Joy Borgan and Charles Robert Scott, both of Midland, were married Saturday, Dec. 7, at First Baptist Church in Midland. Dr. Gary Dyer and Dale Pond officiated.

Laursen - Greb
Kerry Annette Laursen of Houston, formerly of Amarillo, and Karl Friedrich Greb of Texas City were married Saturday, Oct. 19, at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Sugar Land. The Rev. Mathew Thottiyil officiated.

Mr. and Mrs. Warren
Anna and Elbert Warren of 100 Geronimo Road celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family dinner Saturday, Nov. 23, at The Plaza.

Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham
J.J. and Betty Cunningham of Amarillo celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with a family gathering Thursday, Nov. 28, at their home.

Yows - Cook
Louise Winters Yows of Beeville and Patrick Howard Cook of San Antonio were married Saturday, Oct. 26, at St. Paul Episcopal Church in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. Dr. John Long officiated.

Cox - Carrillo
Jennifer Janette Cox and Jimmy Anthony Carrillo, both of Amarillo, were married Saturday, Dec. 7, at The Wedding Chapel.

Caldwell - Richardson
Stacy Caldwell of Amarillo and Bradley Richardson of San Antonio were married Saturday, Sept. 21, at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston. The Rev. Roger Kuykendall and the Rev. Carey Sayers officiated.

Home away from home
For the first time in three days, the sun came up in Amarillo on Friday morning.

Then there were two
Perhaps there's something to be said for letting the game come to the players instead of being consumed with strategy.

Buffs test undefeated OPSU
The West Texas A&M men's basketball team made a statement in their last game, an 82-65 victory against Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 30. Today, the Buffs will need to do one better.

Lady Buffs exhibition against Flyers canceled
The exhibition basketball game between the Oklahoma Flyers and the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs has been canceled and won't be rescheduled, WT athletics director Ed Harris said Friday.

WT's Thompson honored
West Texas A&M's Chaun Thompson has been named to the first unit of the NCAA Division II all-West Region football team on defense.